The five-year-old son of top Flat stallion Dubawi jumped smartly and proved too good for four rivals in the Racing Post’s Arkle Trophy Trial – the Arkle itself, run at the Cheltenham Festival in March, is now top of the agenda for Dodging Bullets.

Nicholls said: “It frustrates me that some of the horses have not run as well as I expected them to, and some have run dire races for absolutely no reason. You can do all the tests you like but nothing shows up, so you are always a little nervous, but this horse has run as he looked at home.

“He’s been in good form and the best thing we have done with him is go chasing. He’s in the Arkle picture on that run, but we won’t be in a hurry with him this season. The Henry VIII Chase at Sandown is a possibility, but I might run Hinterland in that race.

“A race at Newbury over Christmas might suit, but I won’t run him in bad ground.

“He’s come from being what I would call a wound-up Flat horse to a more relaxed jumper – there’s always been a bit of an issue with him mentally, but physically he’s grown up a lot. I had to persuade the owners to let me go chasing with him, but he’s very sure-footed and good over a fence.

“He’s come on a lot since Kempton and learned a lot. He’s galloped up the hill properly today and is a proper horse.”

Connections were happy with Raya Star despite the 15/8 favourite suffering a five length defeat this afternoon.

Trainer Alan King offered no excuses for the defeat and admitted that his seven-year-old would learn a lot from the experience.

“We’re very happy with him after that,” said King.

“He’ll learn a lot and was beaten by a better horse on the day. It’s all a learning experience with him at the moment and I’m sure he’ll be better for it. He hit one early on which is the first mistake he’s ever made but he recovered well and we’re happy with his performance.

Jockey Robert Thornton shared the same view as the trainer.

“He’s been beaten by a better horse on the day – I’ve no excuses.”

Tony Martin, trainer of Ted Veale, was also delighted with the performance of his gelding, who finished a further three and a quarter lengths behind Raya Star.

“You’ve got to be delighted with that run,” said Martin.

“He wouldn’t be rated as high as Dodging Bullets and Raya Star over hurdles and therefore wasn’t really entitled to win the race.

“He’s run a grand race though and it’s a learning curve with him. We’ll try and pick up a small race with him somewhere and take it from there.”

Ted Veale’s jockey Barry Geraghty was also sure that the experience would stand his mount in good stead.

“He ran a very good race and he’ll learn from the experience,” said Geraghty.